Safety device for laundry extractors



July 15, 1958 R. NELSQN SAFETY DEVICE FOR LAUNDRY EXTRACTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 11. 1957 FIG. .1.

INVENTOR.

s I Y ww. w; E m N w L MW United States Patent SAFETY DEVICE FOR LAUNDRY EXTRACTORS Russell L. Nelson, Long Beach, Calif.

Application January 11, 1957, Serial No. 633,691

3 Claims. (Cl. 192136) This invention relates to safety devices, and more particularly to a safety device arranged to prevent theopening of the cover of a laundry extractor while the tub of the laundry apparatus is in motion.

A main object of the invention is to-provide a novel and improved safety device adapted to be connected to the energizing circuit of a laundry extractor, or similar laundry apparatus, said safety device being arranged to prevent anyone from opening the cover of the laundry extractor or similar apparatus while the tub of the apparatus is in motion, the device being simple in construction, being easy to install, and being reliable in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved safety device for a laundry apparatus which positively prevents the release of the laundry cover while the laundry tub is in motion, the safety device involving inexpensive components, being durable in construction, and being arranged so that the lid of the laundry extractor or similar apparatus on which the device is employed cannot be opened when the machine is accelerating, when the machine is running, or before the machine comes to a stop.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical cross sectional view taken through a portion of a laundry extractor provided with an improved safety device according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken through a portion of the top rim and the adjacent portion of the cover of the laundry extractor, showing the latch release solenoid which must be energized in order to release the cover.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an electrical wiring diagram illustrating the electrical connections of the safety device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates the frame of a conventional laundry extractor of the type including a rotary tub which is driven by a suitable electric motor, for example, a three phase motor whose power input wires are shown at 12, 13 and 14 in Figure 6. The motor drives a shaft 15 which is connected by a suitable coupling assembly 16 to another shaft 17 axially aligned with the shaft 15. The shaft 17 is journalled in a bushing 18 which is threadedly engaged in an annular bottom cap 19 which is supported on and secured to the top end of a housing 20 which is in turn secured to the frame 11 of the laundry extractor, as shown in Figure 1. Secured to the bottom of the inverted cap member 19 is an annular fitting 21 in which is mounted a ball bearing unit 22 engaging a collar element 23 secured to the shaft 17.

Threadedly engaged on the inverted bottom cap 19 is a cylindrical housing 24, and threadedly engaged in the top portion of the housing 24 is an annular top cover 25. Secured to an upstanding boss 26 formed centrally on the top cover 25 is a micro switch housing 27 in which is mounted a micro switch 28 having the actuating pin 29 and having a leaf spring 30 which extends subjacent the pin 39 and which is adapted to operate themicro switch responsive to upward flexure of the leaf spring.

As shown in Figure 6, the micro switch 28 comprises the movable switch pole 31, the stationary upper contact 32 and the stationary lower contact 33, which is normally engaged by the pole 31. When the free end of the leaf spring 30 is flexed upwardly, the pin 29 moves the pole 31 upwardly, causing the pole 31 to engage with the contact 32 and to disengage from the contact 33.

The free end of the leaf spring 30 engages the top end of a vertically movable, axial plunger member 35 which is slidably mounted in the central bore of the top cover member 25, the lower end of the plunger member 35 depending into the cavity defined within the housing 24. Said cavity contains a quantity of oil 36 and a rotor 37 comprising a sleeve member 38 slidably mounted on the top portion of the shaft 17 and having a plurality of fan blades 39 secured thereto and projecting radially therefrom. A transverse pin 40 is secured in the top portion of the shaft 17 and projects therefrom on the opposite sides of said shaft, said pin extending through a pair of inclined slots 41, 41 formed in the sleeve 38. The top end of the sleeve 38 is provided with an upwardly concave cap member 42 in which is seated a ball 43, the ball being retained on the cap member 42 by a plurality of upwardly and inwardly extending retaining fingers 44 formed on the top portion of sleeve 38 and engaging the upper portion of the ball 43 in the manner shown in Figure '1 to retain the ball 43 on the concave central seat portion of the cap 42.

As shown in Figure 1, the ball 43 is positioned directly below and in axial alignment with the plunger member 35. Rotation of shaft 17 causes the transverse pin 40 to cammingly engage the inclined slots 41, 41 in the sleeve member 38 and to move said sleeve member vertically. Thus, counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 17, as viewed in Figure 3, causes the transverse pin 40 to engage the inclined upper edges of the slots 41, 41 and to move the sleeve member 38 upwardly, whereby the ball 43 engages the lower end of plunger member 35 and elevates said plunger member. This elevates the free end of the leaf spring 30, causing the actuating pin 29 of the micro switch 28 to be elevated, whereby pole 31 disengages from the stationary contact 33 and engages the upper stationary contact 32. As will be readily apparent, the operation of the micro switch 28 takes place immediately following the initiation of rotary movement of shaft 17, since the oil 36 in the housing 24, as well as the inertia of the parts, tends to resist rotation of the rotor 37, whereby the pin 40 cammingly acts on the top edges of the slots 41. Due to the resistance of the oil 36,

the rotor 37 remains elevated while the shaft 17 is in motion, and continues in its elevated position even when the shaft 17 decelerates. The sleeve 38 descends to its normal position only after the rotary movement of shaft 17 has terminated.

As shown in Figure 1, a suitable rotary seal unit 46 is provided between shaft 17 and the inverted bottom cap 19 to prevent leakage of oil from housing 24.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the cover of the laundry extractor, shown at 47, is lockingly engaged by a latch bolt 48 mounted in the rim portion 49 of the laundry extractor to secure the cover in closed position. The locking bolt 48 is secured to a plunger 49 which is controlled by a solenoid 50 mounted in a housing 51 secured within the portion of the housing of the laundry extractor adjacent to the cover rim 49. As shown in Figure 4, the bolt 48 is slidably mounted in a suitable sleeve member 52 and is biased toward an outwardly projecting, locking position by a coiled spring 53 surrounding the plunger 49 and bearing between the lock body 48 and the centrally apertured end wall 54 of the guide sleeve 52.

Mounted in the housing 51 above the guide sleeve 52 is a micro switch 55 having an operating member 56 extending downwardly and laterally from one end of the main body of the micro switch, as shown in Figure 4, and formed at its end with a lug element 57 which normally engages behind a collar 58 on plunger 49. Micro switch 55 comprises the movable pole 59, the bottom stationary contact 60 and the upper stationary contact 61. Normally the pole 59 engages the lower contact 68; When the solenoid 58 becomes energized, it retracts its plunger 49, whereby the collar 58 engages against the lug 57, actuating the micro switch 55 and causing the pole 59 to engage the stationary upper contact 61 and disengage from the stationary lower contact 60.

As will be further apparent, the lock bolt 48 can only be retracted by the energization of the solenoid 50, whereby the cover 47 cannot be released unless solenoid St) is energized after said cover has been placed in its closed position, shown in fragmentary view in Figure 4.

Designated at 63 is a housing which is mounted on the laundry extractor body in any suitable manner and which contains an indicator lamp 64 visible through a window 65 in the housing 63.

Referring now to Figure 6, the three-phase power supply line wires are designated respectively at 67, 68 and 69. A conventional starter 70 controls the connection of the motor line wires 12, 13 and 14 to the power supply wires 69, 68 and 67, the starter 70 including the starting solenoid 71 and the respective starter switch members 72, 73 and 74 which are moved into closing positions responsive to the energization of the solenoid 71 to connect the motor terminal wires 12, 13 and 14 to the respective power supply wires 69, 68 and 67. The starting solenoid 71 is connected by a wire 75 to the supply wire 68 at one terminal and has its other terminal connected through a normally closed cutout switch 76 to a wire 77. A conventional stop and start push button assembly 78 is provided, the wire 77 being connected through a normally closed stop switch 79 contained in said assembly to the motor lead wire 12 by a wire 80, as shown. normally open start switch 81 of the assembly 78 to a wire 82, which is in turn connected to the stationary upper contact 61 of micro switch 55.

The pole 59 of micro switch 55 is connected by a wire 83 to the line wire 69. One terminal of the lock solenoid 50 is connected by a wire 84 to the line wire 69.

Mounted on the housing 63 is a normally open push button switch 85. The remaining terminal of lock solenoid 50 is connected by a wire 86 to one contact of the switch 85. The remaining terminal of switch 85 is connected by a wire 87 to the stationary bottom contact 33 of micro switch 28, as shown.

The pole 31 of micro switch 28 is connected by a wire 88 to the power supply wire 68. The upper contact 32 of micro switch 28 is connected by a wire 89 to one terminal of the pilot lamp 64. The opposite terminal of said pilot lamp is connected by a wire 90 to the pole 59, and hence through wire 83 to the line wire 69.

As will be apparent from Figure 6, the solenoid 50 may be normally energized, namely, when the shaft 17 is at rest, by closing the push button switch 85. This energizes the solenoid 50 through a circuit comprising line wire 68, wire 88, pole 31, contact 33, wire 87, the closed push button switch 85, wire 86, the winding of the solenoid 50, wire 84 and line wire 69. Thus, the

Wire 77 is further connected through the I cover 47 may be readily removed when shaft 17 is at rest, namely, when the machine is not operating.

When the shaft 17 is rotating, namely, when the tub of the machine is rotating, as above explained, the rotor 37 is elevated, causing the leaf spring 30 to be flexed upwardly, whereby pole 31 disengages from contact 33 and engages the upper stationary contact 32. This opens the circuit previously described to the lock solenoid 50, whereby said solenoid cannot be energized when push button switch is closed. At the same time, the indicating lamp 64 becomes energized by a circuit comprising line wire 68, wire 88, pole 31, upper switch contact 32, wire 89, the filament of lamp 64, wire 90, wire 83, and line wire 69.

Figure 6 illustrates the condition of the micro switch 55 when the cover is ofi. Under these circumstances, the pole 59 engages the lower contact 60 and the starter solenoid 71 cannot be energized, since the energizing circuit thereof is open between upper contact 61 and pole When the cover 47 is in its closed position, illustrated in Figure 4, the collar 58 engages the lug 57 to actuate the micro switch 55 and to elevate pole 59 into engagement with upper contact 61. Thus, the motor cannot be started if the cover is off, nor can the motor be started if lock solenoid 50 is energized.

As will be readily apparent from Figure 6, the inclusion of the various elements of the safety device does not in any way interfere with the normal operation of the starter 7t and of the stop and start push button assembly 78, except that the motor cannot be started when the cover 47 is removed or when the cover release sole? noid 50 is energized.

As will be also apparent, the cover cannot be removed while the machine is operating, since as above described, the circuit to the cover-releasing solenoid 56 is open between pole 31 and contact 33 of micro switch 28 when shaft 17 is rotating.

While a specific embodiment of an improved safety device for a laundry extractor or similar apparatus has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a laundry machine of the type comprising a rotary driven member, a cover, a solenoid controlling the release of said cover and being formed and arranged to release said cover when energized, an energizing circuit connected to said solenoid, and a normally closed switch in said energizing circuit, means to prevent closure of said switch while the driven member is rotating comprising a liquid chamber, a shaft coupled to said driven member and being rotatably mounted in said chamber, a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft, vane means secured to said sleeve and being engaged in the liquid in the chamber to retard rotation of the sleeve, cam means formed and arrangedto move the sleeve axially on the shaft responsive to rotation of the shaft, and means formed and arranged to open said switch responsive to axial movement of said sleeve on said shaft.

2. In a laundry machine of the type comprising a rotary driven member, a cover, a solenoid controlling the release of said cover and being formed and arranged to release said cover when energized, an energizing circuit connected to said solenoid, and a normally closed switch in said energizing circuit, means to prevent closure of said switch while the driven member is rotating comprising a liquid member, a shaft coupled to said driven member and being rotatably mounted in said chamber, a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft, vane means secured to said sleeve and being engaged in the liquid in the chamber to retard rotation of the sleeve, said sleeve being formed with an inclined cam slot, 2. pin secured to said shaft and projecting through said cam slot, whereby to move the sleeve axially on the shaft responsive to rotation of the shaft, and means formed and arranged to open said switch responsive to axial movement of said sleeve on said shaft.

3. In a laundry machine of the type comprising a rotary driven member, a cover, a solenoid controlling the release of said cover and being formed and arranged to release said cover when energized, an energizing circuit connected to said solenoid, and a normally closed switch in said energizing circuit, means to prevent closure of said switch while the driven member is rotating comprising a liquid chamber, a shaft coupled to said driven member and being rotatably mounted in said chamber, a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft, vane means secured to said sleeve and being engaged in the liquid in the chamber to retard rotation of the sleeve, said sleeve being formed with an inclined cam slot, a pin secured to said shaft and projecting through said cam slot, whereby to move the sleeve axially on the shaft responsive to rotation of the shaft, a plunger element slidably mounted in said chamber in axial alignment with said sleeve and being formed and arranged to open said switch responsive to axial movement thereof, and means mounted on the sleeve and being formed and arranged to move said plunger element axially responsive to axial movement of said sleeve on said shaft.

References (Iited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,634,452 Carroll July 5, 1927 2,004,064 Jordan et al. June 4, 1935 2,235,988 Frohwitter Mar. 25, 1941 2,325,406 Johnson July 27, 1943 2,698,364 Gaylord et al. Dec. 28, 1954 

